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Woman attacked at church

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PLAQUEMINE - Police said a woman was stabbed in a church parking lot as part of an attempted carjacking in Plaquemine early Monday morning.

Officers with the Plaquemine Police Department said the stabbing happened around 7 a.m. at the lot of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church on Plaquemine Street.

Investigators said the woman was stabbed in the leg, but had minor injuries and was later released from the hospital. Police said they believe the attempted carjacking was an isolated crime of opportunity.

"Someone came up behind her, grabbed her around the shoulders and pushed her back into her vehicle," Captain Kenny Payne said.

Payne added the attacker could not operate the woman's push-to-start vehicle and while he was fighting with the vehicle, the woman managed to scream for help.

"It alarmed other people in the parking lot to come towards her," he said.

As the woman screamed, the attacker figured out how to start the car and put it in gear but put it back in park and took off running as people approached. As he was getting away, he stabbed the woman in her leg.

People who saw the commotion were shocked to hear what they witnessed.

"I thought it was a wreck; I never had any idea it was somebody getting carjacked," a woman named Tina said. "I don't understand how something like that could have happened," she continued

Investigators said they're working with the victim to identify the stabber, but have no suspects in custody at this time. Anyone with information should call Plaquemine Police.